Multicriteria feasibility assessment of BioSuccinic acid production from lignocellulosic biomass

Abstract

The goal of any lignocellulosic based biorefinery should be to produce a spectrum of marketable products and energy utilizing all significant components of biomass. Depending on the maturity of available technology, biorefineries can target high-value low-volume (HVLV), middle-value middle-volume (MVMV), and low-value high-volume (LVHV) outputs provided they are economically feasible. BioSuccinic Acid (BioSA), a MVMV product, has considerable potential as a candidate for biorefineries based on an analysis we carried out initially. The total world production of Succinic Acid (SA) in 2013–2014 was 38,000 tons, valued at 2.90 USD/kg SA and with predicted worldwide market demand of 94,000 tons by 2025. However, the most crucial challenge encountered with BioSA production is the cost of production compared to its conventional fossil-based counterpart. About a decade ago, many industries were set up to produce succinic acid from starch-based renewable sources when the cost of petroleum and petroleumbased products was higher than 100 dollars a barrel. The drop-in petroleum prices have led to the closure or re-orientation of some of these industrial units. [...]